‘Postage Stamps, Crucial Infrastructure For Development’

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has revealed that postage stamps are  essential assets in the component of the economy of every country and a crucial infrastructure for development.
The Postmaster General (PMG) of the Federation/Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST, Dr Sunday Adepoju, stated this in Abuja at the unveiling of the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) commemorative stamp at the weekend.
The Tide’s source reports that the African commemorative postage stamp was launched on Saturday to mark the inauguration of the PAPU tower in Arusha, Tanzania .
The PAPU tower is a new 17-storey building for Africa’s continental body. PAPU is responsible for coordinating postal development in Africa.
Represented by NIPOST’s Director of Planning and Business Development,  Dr  Thomas Gaga, Adepoju said it was celebrating the history, cultural heritage and diversity of the African continent.
“NIPOST, in conjunction with PAPU member States, today released a single postage stamp that is N 250 in value with a surcharge of N5.
“Being an African Joint Stamp Issue, all member States of the Union are required to incorporate into the design, an iconic emblem or national natural artifact of their choice in their respective countries”, he said.
He added that the Nigerian version of the Stamp depicted the historic Zuma Rock, juxtaposed against the PAPU Tower located in Arusha, Tanzania.
Adepoju noted that PAPU chose postage stamps as part of the activities liked up, and added that postage stamps are an effective means to supply information about a country’s history, culture and people.
“Postage stamps are often described as miniature encyclopedia and living reminders of events. The aim of the joint stamp issue is to promote African heritage and events”, he said.
He also promised that NIPOST would be consistent in ensuring that major events in Nigerian history were documented for posterity through the issuance of commemorative stamps.
The Tide’s source reports that a total of 250, 000 of horizontal format stamps were released on September 2, designed and printed by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc.